I think the problem is that if you work a tech job for 5-10 years you are way out of the middle class. Middle class is generally 50-100k/year. 5-10 years of experience in tech should put you well past 100...
Your idea of "saving money for when you quit" doesn't work for middle class as the amount you save is not enough for "living on ramen for a few years" -- it will likely not be enough to even pay rent.
Really depends on where you live, though. If you make 75k-100k in the Bay Area, you're far from wealthy, I believe poverty line was 100k for a family of 4 there as of this year.
100k in Dallas is a different conversation though.
Your idea of "saving money for when you quit" doesn't work for middle class as the amount you save is not enough for "living on ramen for a few years" -- it will likely not be enough to even pay rent.